Broxton's 4 RBIs power Crew past Red Sox

MILWAUKEE -- Mookie Betts continued Boston's power surge with a leadoff home run before the Brewers reminded their Interleague foes who leads the Major Leagues in homers.

Eric Thames and Keon Broxton hit two-run homers in Milwaukee's five-run first inning, and Broxton went on to drive in four runs and score three more as the Brewers slugged their way to an 11-7 win in Boston's first visit to Miller Park in 14 years. The blasts boosted the Brewers' MLB-best home run count to 55, while the Red Sox are tied for third-fewest with 28 -- although they've hit 10 in their past four games.

MILWAUKEE -- Mookie Betts continued Boston's power surge with a leadoff home run before the Brewers reminded their Interleague foes who leads the Major Leagues in homers.

Eric Thames and Keon Broxton hit two-run homers in Milwaukee's five-run first inning, and Broxton went on to drive in four runs and score three more as the Brewers slugged their way to an 11-7 win in Boston's first visit to Miller Park in 14 years. The blasts boosted the Brewers' MLB-best home run count to 55, while the Red Sox are tied for third-fewest with 28 -- although they've hit 10 in their past four games.

"We're just ready to play, man," said Broxton, who finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs, falling a double shy of the cycle and continuing a stretch in which he is hitting .383 over his last 15 games. "We can't wait to get something to drive and hit. I think that's what we go to sleep thinking about, just getting a good pitch to hit and every guy in this lineup, that's what we want to do. We want to hit something hard, early."

While Broxton enjoyed a huge night for the Brewers, Betts led Boston. His ninth career leadoff home run started a four-hit, four-RBI game that left him a triple shy of the cycle by the fifth inning.

"A big night," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Mookie is swinging the bat exceptionally well on this road trip."

Andrew Benintendi also had a big game for the Red Sox, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. The rookie has been on a tear the first four games of this road trip, hitting .526 (10-for-19) with five runs, three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and three walks.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDA scare, then a smash: Brewers head athletic trainer Dan Wright sprung into action in the top of the first inning after Thames slid into a padded post in front of the dugout while chasing a foul pop. Thames shooed him away, stayed in the game, then smacked a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to spark Milwaukee's five-run flurry against Boston starter Drew Pomeranz. Thames' second home run in as many at-bats pushed him back into a tie atop the MLB leaderboard with 13 home runs.

"I think it was being happy about being inside the dome," said Thames, who batted .250 on the Brewers' road trip to St. Louis and Pittsburgh. "I'm just waiting for the [outfield] panels to open. That's where it gets fun."

Breathing room: After Boston cut the deficit to 6-4 with run-scoring doubles from Betts, Dustin Pedroia and Benintendi in the fifth, knocking Brewers starter Wily Peralta out of the game along the way, the Brewers reclaimed command by mounting their own three-run rally in the sixth. The inning included Orlando Arcia's second RBI double of the night, but the big hit belonged to pinch-hitter Nick Franklin, whose hit-and-run double drove home two runs for a 9-4 lead. The three earned runs in the inning were one more than reliable Red Sox reliever Heath Hembree had surrendered in his first 14 appearances this season.

"That was the game a bunch of the night, where they cut it close and then we had an answer for them," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.

ADVENTURES ON THE BASEPATHSThe Brewers' victory covered a shaky night for leadoff man Jonathan Villar, who reached safely three times, including a pair of walks, but made two more ill-advised outs on the bases. In the third inning with one out, Villar was thrown out trying to steal third base with Ryan Braun at the plate. With one out in the sixth, Villar was picked off first base with Thames batting.

"He had a rough night tonight," Counsell said. "He had some good at-bats to get things started tonight. But he made some mistakes on the bases tonight."

It was thought that Villar had a permanent green light to run, but that was not the case, Counsell said.

QUOTABLE"I just think when he's getting pitches in the middle of the plate, he's not missing. We've seen for almost two years now when he gets in one of these runs, it's a lot of hard contact, impact to the baseball and extra-base hits are pretty frequent. And he's in that spot right now."-- Farrell, on Betts

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDSWhatever the Brewers are doing in batting practice, it's working. They lead the Majors with 33 runs scored in the first inning while batting .326 (45-for-138) with 15 doubles, a triple, nine homers and 18 walks. The Phillies are next with 32 first-inning runs, including four on Tuesday.

"It's something we've talked about a lot," Counsell said. "When that starting pitcher is not quite settled into what he's doing, it's his first time out there in five days, it's a great opportunity -- sometimes your best opportunity -- to get that guy before he gets going."

WHAT'S NEXTRed Sox: Veteran sinkerballer Kyle Kendrick will try to have a better showing than he did in his season debut against the Orioles last week, when he gave up eight hits and six runs over four innings. Kendrick replaced Steven Wright in the rotation. First pitch of Wednesday's game against the Brewers is set for 8:10 p.m. ET. Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who was on the bench the last three games due to a hitting slump, is expected to be back in the lineup.

Brewers:Chase Anderson will make his first career start against the Red Sox at 7:10 p.m. CT. The right-hander has held opponents to a .238 batting average and has given up just one home run this season.